PROVO, Utah — No. 20 BYU women's volleyball is back at home for a pair of matches this week, beginning with a Top 25 matchup on Thursday night against No. 13 Arizona State.
The Cougars (13-6, 6-3 Big 12) take a three-game win streak into the match with the Sun Devils, their longest during conference play this season.
| No. 20 BYU vs. No. 13 Arizona State | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Time | Stream | Live Stats |
| Thursday, Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. MDT | ESPN+ | Stat Broadcast |
BYU moved up a spot from No. 21 to No. 20 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, marking 177-straight polls that the Cougars have been ranked in the Top 25. All 10 of head coach Heather Olmstead's seasons have been spent inside the Top 25.
The Cougars played just one game last week, beating Colorado in four sets. BYU was led by middle blocker Brielle Kemavor, who recorded her second double-double this season with 14 kills and a career-high 12 blocks. She was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday after her performance against the Buffaloes in Boulder.
Kemavor is just the seventh middle blocker to record a double-double in the rally scoring era at BYU, the fifth to post more than one in the same season and first since 2012. She is the second Cougar to earn a Big 12 honor this season after setter Alex Bower was named Rookie of the Week earlier this month.
Joining Kemavor in double figures at Colorado were Elli Mortensen (12 kills, hitting .323), Kjersti Strong (11 kills on a .529 clip) and Claire Little (10 kills), the first match this season that BYU has had four hitters with double-digit kills. Bower tallied 45 assists and was a dig shy of her ninth double-double this season. Lulu Uluave joined Bower with nine digs, and Kate Prior contibuted eight blocks.
The Cougars hit .285 in the match while holding the Buffaloes to a .147 clip. BYU is 10-0 this season when hitting .250 or better, and 8-1 when holding opponents to clips of less than .199. The Cougars are also 13-1 when out-blocking their opponents and 9-2 when recording 10 or more blocks, something BYU did both of in Boulder.
Following the win at Colorado, the Cougars upped their season hitting percentage to .266, which ranks No. 25 in the nation. BYU also ranks 25th in blocks per set (2.65) and 40th in total blocks (201.5). The Cougars continue to lead the conference in both blocks per set and total blocks.
Halfway through Big 12 play, BYU is also represented on an individual scale, with Kemavor's 1.47 blocks per set and 112 total blocks leading the league as well. She ranks No. 9 and No. 10 in the country, respectively, in those metrics. The Cougars also have Bower (749 assists) and Little (340 points) sitting at third in the Big 12.
Set to face the Sun Devils for the second time this month, BYU looks to further its three game win streak by snapping a two-game skid against Arizona State.
No. 13 Arizona State (20-2, 8-1 Big 12)
- The Sun Devils are on an eight-game win streak, with their only Big 12 loss (3-1) at then-No. 19 Baylor the opening weekend of conference play.
- In his second season, ASU head coach JJ Van Niel has a 48-9 (.842) record in Tempe.
- BYU leads the all-time series, 21-6, but has lost the last two meetings in straight sets. Arizona State swept the Cougars in Tempe on Oct. 4 as well in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament last year.
After its "Spook & Spike" match against Arizona State, BYU will welcome Arizona to the Smith Fieldhouse on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. MDT.